Man in camouflage threatens luggage store workers

WASHINGTON – Just days after the fatal shooting inside the Mall in Columbia, police took a man into custody after he threatened to kill workers at a luggage store inside Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Maryland State Police say 31-year-old George Hong Sik Chin of Rockville was taken into custody Tuesday night and was being held for an emergency mental evaluation.

Employees at the Tumi luggage store told police that Chin became aggressive, complaining about the prices. When police found Chin inside the mall in Bethesda, they say he made rambling statements, saying he had not taken his prescribed medication.

“He was wearing camouflage. He was acting disorderly. And he was threatening to kill employees of the luggage store,” says Greg Shipley, spokesman for the Maryland State Police.

Chin was unarmed and didn’t physically assault anyone, according to police.

“Certainly police all across Maryland are aware of the incident in Columbia and are on heightened alert for situations like that,” Shipley says.

Police say a small amount of suspected marijuana was found in Chin’s truck and drug charges are pending.